Candler Road Library opening still a few weeks away
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

“That’s what we are telling staff, but we
don’t know for sure,” she said.
The system was awaiting the completion of a traffic light into the facility and
Weissinger said that was completed last week.
On Wednesday, the fire marshal completed
inspection of the building, and Comcast recently installed fiber lines needed to run the
library’s 27 public access computers.
When it opens, the new branch will replace the 8,700-square-foot Scott Candler
Library, which has been on McAfee Road
for 47 years.
Weissinger said the old branch will be
closed for about three weeks to facilitate the

The new Scott Candler Library on Candler Road is still weeks away from opening.
Even though construction on the
12,000-square-foot facility, has been finished
since December, DeKalb Library director
Alison Weissinger said Thursday that they
are awaiting the certificate of occupancy and
the arrival of furniture to move in.
“We can’t move in until we have it,” she
said. “But we should have it soon.”
When construction started on the facility
in December 2010, it was to open in spring
2012.
Weissinger said they are hoping to open
by the end of July.
Please see LIBRARY, page 6

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

The new library is awaiting ts Certificate of Occupancy, and the arrival of furniture.

Two shot to death at Victory Church funeral
Two others injured
after service for
shooting victim
By Carla Parker

Two men were shot to death Thursday
in the parking lot of Victory for the World
Church in Stone Mountain, minutes after the
funeral for a 19-year-old
shooting victim ended.
Two other people were
injured and hospitalized
in the gunfire, which occurred around 1 p.m.
Mourners were leaving the church after the
home-going service for
Ryan Devon Guider of Ryan Guider
Decatur, who was shot to death on May 26,
when gunshots pierced the air.
The homegoing service for Guider was
being held at the church where his mother
a member.
DeKalb Police had not identified the
dead or injured by press time Thursday. The
condition of the injured people was also not
known late Thursday.
Hours after the crime, police had three
people in custody but did not identify
them.
DeKalb Public Safety
Director Wiz Miller said
28-year-old Marcus D.
Ventress, who is a suspect
in Guider’s death, was
seen in the parking lot
with a gun. He was not
among the suspects deMarcus Ventress
tained Thursday.
“Initial reports were he was the one who
showed up and started shooting,” Miller
said.
Williams said one of the victims died on
the scene and the other died on the way to
the hospital.

Carla Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Witnesses said there was pure chaos in the parking lot as nearly 500 people tried to run back inside Victory Church to escape the bullets.

Miller said Thursday’s shootings could
have been either retaliation or “just another
show of disrespect for Mr. Guider and his
family.”
Witnesses said there was an altercation
in the parking lot before the discharge of
gunfire.
Miller said detectives believe Ventress left
the church with others in a vehicle. People
traveling in a vehicle were detained not far
from the church but Miller could not confirm who was in the car or if they’ve been
charged.

Witnesses said there was pure chaos in
the parking lot as nearly 500 people tried
to run back inside the church to escape the
bullets.
Ron Williams, who was preparing food
for the repast in the church kitchen, said his
wife, Geraldin, was in the sanctuary when the
shooting started.
“She heard shots and somebody told
everyone to get down,” he said. “she was terrified and frantic. I never thought nothing
like this would happen at a church.”
Wil Williamson, a minister who said a

prayer at the funeral, said he saw the suspects and the victims fighting before the
shooting.
“I heard at least four or five shots then
saw two dead bodies,” he said. “It was surreal.” Williams said he has been a member
of church on North Hairston Road for 25
years.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he
said.
Police said Ventress, 28, killed Guider in
Please see SHOOTING, page 2

2

CrossRoadsNews

Community

June 9, 2012

“I love my wife and kids. Pray for my child in the hospital,” Johnson told
reporters when he was leaving court after the hearing.

Police, fire teams vie for title Alleged drunk driver free on bond
The DeKalb Police Department will
face off with the Atlanta Fire Department
on June 9 for the Metro Atlanta Public
Safety Flag Football League championship trophy.
The championship game concludes
the six-week Flag Football League season,
which kicked off on May 5.
The league features public safety teams
throughout the metro area, including
DeKalb, Clayton, Henry, and Gwinnett
counties and the city of Atlanta.
The 1 p.m. championship game takes
place at Hallford Stadium in Clarkston.
The Southwest DeKalb High School
Marching Panthers and the Stephenson

High School Marching Jaguars will faceoff
in a halftime show.
The Public Safety Flag Football League
is the first of its kind in metro Atlanta and
is designed to build camaraderie, increase
morale, enhance collaboration, and promote
overall health and wellness among police and
sheriff departments. Tickets are $5 for adults
and kids ages 10 and older. Kids 9 and under
are free. Proceeds benefit the Gold Shield
Foundation of Metro Atlanta LLC, which
assists spouses and dependent children of law
enforcement officers or firefighters killed or
incapacitated in the line of duty.
Hallford Memorial Stadium is at 3789
Memorial College Ave. in Clarkston.

Lewis to hose town hall meeting

John Lewis

DeKalb District 3 residents can meet Congressman John Lewis at
a June 14 town hall meeting at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts
Center in Decatur.
Lewis acquired a bigger chunk of DeKalb County in the recent
redistricting following the 2010 US Census. His 5th Congressional
District now includes most of DeKalb Commission District 3.
The 7 p.m. meeting is being cohosted by District 3 Commissioner
Larry Johnson.The Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center is at 3181
Rainbow Drive in Decatur.
For more information, call 404-371-2988.

Training set for National Night Out
DeKalb residents interested in organizing
a National Night Out event for their community can attend the 2012 National Night
Out Training on June 12 at the Stonecrest
Library in Lithonia.
At the 6:30 p.m. training session, participants will learn about National Night
Out and what it takes to organize an event.
More than 12,000 communities nationwide

celebrate the crime and drug prevention
event that encourages residents to leave
their lights on and hold community social
events. The 29th annual Night Out will be
celebrated on Aug. 7.
The library is at 3123 Klondike Road.
To register, visit www.events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07
e5zbwpi1c2508654&oseq.

Community. Fairness. Justice.

A Lithonia father accused of driving
drunk when he crashed his car with his four
kids inside – killing his teenage daughter – is
out on bond.
Anthony Johnson, 35,
was released on $12,500
bond on June 6.
Police said he lost control of his Chrysler Pacifica
on June 3 and crashed into
the woods on Highway 78
near Stone Mountain.
Johnson’s 15-year-old Anthony Johnson
daughter, Corliss Johnson, the oldest of his
four children, died in the crash. Her 11-yearold sister, Joy, was taken to the hospital in
critical condition with a skull fracture and
possible brain injury.
She remains hospitalized at Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.
The two boys, 8 and 9 years old, who
were not identified, were treated for minor
injuries.
Corliss had just completed her freshman
year at Stephenson High School.
Johnson was arrested and charged with
DUI, vehicular homicide, endangering the
life of a child and failure to maintain lane.
According to a police report, officers arrived at the crash scene to find Johnson’s oldest daughter dead in the car, but no one else
was at the scene. Johnson told authorities that
he passed out after the crash, and when he
could not find his cell phone, he and his sons
walked nearly a mile to the Metro Café Diner
on Rockbridge Road and called for help.
In a 911 tape released on June 5, Johnson
told the 911 operator that “two of my girls in
the back seat – they’re dead.”
The officer interviewing Johnson outside
the diner wrote in the police report that
Johnson’s “speech was slurred, he was loud,
and his eyes were bloodshot red.”
The officer reported a strong smell of alcohol coming from his breath. Johnson consented to a blood test to determine whether
or not he was under the influence, but those
results have yet to be released.
When the officer asked how much alcohol
Johnson had to drink before the crash, the
report says Johnson replied, “What does that
have to do with the accident?”

Corliss
Johnson died
when police
say her father,
Anthony
Johnson,
lost control
of his car
and crashed
into woods
near Stone
Mountain.

The officer reported that after he asked
again, Johnson said he he had one beer while
watching the NASCAR race at his brother’s
house.
The police report says he told the officer
that he drank “one pint of an unknown
liquor” at his brother’s house while the race
was on.
According to the police report, Johnson
also told the officer that after the race was
over, he “consumed half of a Budweiser tall
boy and wasted a shot of whiskey on his
clothes.”
The report says Johnson told the officer
he was on his way to pick up his wife from
work at CVS in Gwinnett County when two
cars passed him on Highway 78 “at a high
rate of speed, causing his vehicle to lift off
the ground.”
Johnson told the officer he overcorrected
and crashed into the woods. When he woke
up, the report says his boys responded when
he called out for them, but his daughters
did not.
At his court appearance on June 5, prosecutors revealed that Johnson had two prior
DUI arrests, in 2002 and 2004.
“I love my wife and kids. Pray for my child
in the hospital,” Johnson told reporters when
he was leaving court after the hearing.
A memorial fund has been established at
Wells Fargo Bank to assist with funeral and
medical expenses. Donations can be made
out to the Corliss Johnson Memorial Fund.

Police suspect retaliation was motive
Police cars
and tape filled
the parking lot
at Victory as
investigators try
to piece together
what happened.

Carla Parker / CrossRoadsNews

SHOOTING,

www.daxfordekalb.com

from page

1

retaliation for burglarizing his home.
Police said Guider allegedly stole jewelry, cash and drugs and punched Ventress’
mother.
Ventress, who is considered armed
and dangerous, is also wanted for aggravated assault for allegedly shooting into an
apartment in the 5800 block of Treecrest
Parkway where he thought Guider lived.
Investigators say Ventress served a sixyear sentence in federal prison on a drug
trafficking charge and has been imprisoned
in Indiana on a cocaine possession charge.
He is currently on parole and probation for
these charges.

Kenneth L. Samuel, the church’s pastor,
had preached the eulogy minutes before
about the value of life, setting the right priorities in life, and promoting peace.
“This tragedy is another reason why
people of all faiths must come together with
public safety officials and elected officials to
stem the rising tide of youth violence in the
African-American community,” he said in a
statement late Thursday.
Guider was buried at Rest Haven Memorial Park on Candler Road around 3 p.m.
Many of those who had planned to attend the interment were forced to stay at
the church, which police cordoned off with
yellow crime scene tapes while they investigated.

June 9, 2012

Community

3

CrossRoadsNews

“Eliminating transportation to AMHS would effectively close our
high school, or turn it into a neighborhood school.”

3,000 students face loss of transportation due to budget cuts
By Carla Parker

More than 3,000 DeKalb students could
lose transportation to school under a budget
proposal up for a June 11 vote.
To help close a $73 million budget
shortfall in its 2013 proposed budget, both
Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson and the
DeKalb School Board have proposed ending transportation for all magnet and choice
programs – including DeKalb Early College,
theme school and Arabia Mountain High
School students.
The transportation elimination is expected to save the school district $1.8 million
but will strand 3,060 students who attend
schools like Kittredge Magnet, Chamblee
Middle, and Chamblee Charter High schools

in North DeKalb.
The cuts will affect 542 elementary students, 973 middle school students, and 1,545
high school students.
Other options under consideration include a 1 mill property tax hike, larger class
sizes, two extra furlough days for employees,
loss of employee health and dental insurance
subsidies; cutting 25 media clerks; eliminating overtime extra activity pay and textbook
replacement; and reducing 10 assistant principals and 10 counselors through attrition.
The school board is set to vote on the
proposed budget on June 11 at 6:30 p.m. at
the J. David Williamson Board Room, Administrative & Instructional Complex, 1701
Mountain Industrial Boulevard in Stone
Mountain.

Parents will get to voice their concerns
about the proposed budget before the vote.
Under the proposed cuts, Arabia Mountain High will see the biggest impact with
891 students losing their transportation. In
an email circulated to parents this week, the
Arabia Mountain PTSA said that number
represents half of the school’s enrollment.
“Eliminating transportation to AMHS
would effectively close our high school, or
turn it into a neighborhood school,” the
email said.
Judith Taylor, an Arabia Mountain parent who drops her daughter off at school,
said the transportation cut will cause “total
pandemonium” at the school.
“This could add up to over 800 cars to
an area which is already congested between

7 and 8 a.m.,” she said. “It is ridiculous to
even contemplate an additional three or eight
hundred cars dropping/picking up students.
In effect, if the School Board has its way, I will
definitely be late for work every morning.”
Janaiha Ellis, whose 15-year-old daughter, Reanah Gibson, attends DECA, said her
daughter will be late to school every day if
she has to drive her to school.
“I have to drop my 5-year-old off at
school before 7:45 a.m.,” she said. “It’s impossible – with traffic – to get Reanah to school
by 8 a.m. If they cut the transportation she’ll
be in violation of the attendance policy.”
Ellis said it’s unfair to punish students for
something they have no control over.
“Why do the kids have to suffer for their
educational choice?” she said.

Walmart officials are reviewing a litany
of complaints about the Fairington Walmart
and they told Lithonia residents that they
will soon have a timeline
on making fixes at the
store.
At a June 7 community meeting, the officials –
regional general manager
Karen Brewer-Edwards,
district manager Zola
Davis, and public affairs
and government relations K. Brewer-Edwards
manager Glen Wilkins – fielded complaints
about safety and customer service, long lines,
spoiled food, lost carts and trash and soliciting in the store’s parking lot.
Brewer-Edwards said the notes that were

taken at the meeting will be looked at and a
timeline set to resolve the issue.
“I don’t want to just say this will be fixed
in three days or one day,” she said. “Then I’m
not being honest with you. Let us look at the
list and give you a commitment and then
you’ll hear from your commissioners [Lee
May and Stan Watson].”
Brewer-Edwards hosted the meeting at
Ousley United Methodist Church to hear
directly from residents after a meeting last
week with Commissioners Stan Watson and
Lee May.
About 40 customers who shop regularly
at the store showed up for the meeting.
Concern over safety in the store’s parking
lot was the number one issue that came up.
Jackie Johnson, who lives in the Panola
Mill subdivision, said the front of the store is
always congested whenever she shops there.

“It’s always cars in front of the store and
customers who are just standing around,”
she said.
Joyce Lindsey, who also lives in Panola
Mill, said she saw what she thought was prostitution in the parking lot a week ago.
“I saw a young lady sitting on the rail near
the carts and a couple of gentlemen drove up
and I think one of them chastised her and she
walked away and went and sat back on that
rail,” she said. “That was the most upsetting
thing to me.”
Brewer-Edwards said a third-party company is suppose to secure the parking lot.
“It definitely appears that they are not
doing their jobs,” she said. “They are suppose
to be riding around the parking lot to deter
any wrongdoing.”
Residents also complained about poor
customer service and said employees were

often out of uniform and
rude.
Ronald Johnson, who
lives in the Buckingham
subdivision, said the community deserves better.
“It’s amazing how I
can go to another side of
town and see a complete
Ronald Johnson
difference in the look, the
costumer service, and everything else,” he
said. “I don’t even go in there anymore. The
few times I’ve walked in there – I’m embarrassed.”
Davis, the district manager, said a new
manager – who was not named – that he is
bringing will improve the store.
“I believe I have the right person,” he said.
“He’s a strong disciplinarian and will fix the
basic things fast like employees’ attire.”

15 K-9 officers

you
Innovative thinking about new ways to
improve security helped MARTA achieve
Flagship Agency status, the highest ranking
any police department can earn*. We could
use your eyes, too. If you see something
that’s not right, call us. We’ll take it from there.
*Awarded by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by
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When will we stop having to go through the “back door”
and/or beg for our fair share of funding?

Funding won’t solve problems facing our schools
The title made me suspicious:
“Investing in our kid’s education is
not an option” [Dr. Eugene Walker,
Forum, CrossRoadsNews, June 2,
2012].
I have learned that when a
politician uses terms such as “our
kids” the appeal is to emotion, not
to the sense of reason. It is usually
linguistic seduction for intellectual
robots to roll with him, picking up
and distributing outrage, anger,
and bootleg conviction to make a
fallacious argument. It is a kind of
pimping or rabble rousing political
noise saying nothing.
Dr. Walker invoked video lottery parlors, jealousy for Mississippi’s gambling tourists, the
National Center for Public Education and terror knifings to education budgets to convince us that
Georgia public education is going
to be extinct without gobs more
state money. It was a pantomime
in words.
However, he never made one
cogent support for his position.
There was no discussion of educational return on investment (ROI)
or return on assets (ROA), as in SAT
scores, AYP performance, drop-out

“Since 2008-09 school year, African American
students’ SAT scores have lagged behind Native
Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and whites by
double and triple digits in the composite SAT
score, in every category and in every year. ”
Elrado Ramsey

rates – nothing!
What are we getting for the
$6,052 the US Census Bureau said
that Georgia taxpayers spent on
every elementary-secondary public
school pupil in the 2008-09 school
year?
Georgia does not have an education funding problem. It has a
“black student problem.” If we use
SAT scores, the end of the line production of a college-ready young
person; AYP – the federal SAT for
public schools and their districts;
and dropout rates, which tells us
how many $6,052/student/year we
are rescuing from waste, black students, majority-black schools and
majority-black school districts are
unmitigated disasters in the Georgia public education calculus.
Dr. Walker and the seduced
have a snowball’s chance in hell’s

microwave of convincing the Georgia legislature to add new money to
elementary and secondary public
education. In fact, it makes sense
to cut what there is. The system is
working beautifully for the people
who are using it. It does not need
one new dime.
Only black students are not using the system.
n African American students are
150 points behind Asians in average
overall SAT scores;
n 150 behind them in math;
n 100 behind them in writing;
n and 90 behind them in verbal.
To put this in perspective, contrary to popular belief, whites and
Asians are close, though Asians tend
to be a few points ahead. Hispanics
and Native Americans are moving
up quickly. However, since 200809 school year, African American

students’ SAT scores have lagged
behind Native Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and whites by double
and triple digits in the composite
SAT score, in every category and in
every year.
The predominantly black public
schools and public school districts
are the same disasters. They are
tremendously more likely not to
meet AYP. Some black public school
administrators are so sensitive to
this fact that they refuse to adhere
to the standard professional websites practice of putting pictures of
the leadership and the customers in
action on the schools’ web sites.
The DeKalb School District and
a whopping 52 percent of DeKalb
public schools did not make AYP
last year. I will not discuss dropout
rates, since horrific dropout rates
forAfrican American students date
back to the early 1970’s. This has
not changed.
Not reason; only consciences of
pity and sympathy could get new
education funding through the
Georgia legislature, and we know
how “well” those two perform in
government considerations.
Elrado Ramsey lives in Decatur.

Stories about TSPLOST vote sparks Internet discussion
Our May 12 story “Supporters, opponents
gearing up for TSPLOST fight” started a lively
conversation at www.crossroadsnews.com.
MARTA Employees have not had a pay raise
in almost seven years, where is that money coming from?
Look at the ceiling and general condition of
The Art Center Station, pay close attention to
the ceiling ! OMG !
Look at the floor tiles of The Garnett Station, Unbelievable the condition! Millions upon
millions of repairs needed right now at MARTA
rail stations!!!
The State of Georgia has never contributed
one dime to MARTA = Only State in the Country to not support it’s Public Transit! Thank you
Bubba! And this bill is not the answer?
The additional taxes will force certian merchants to move out of the higher taxed counties,
just as many stores did when DeKalb and Fulton
voted in MARTA years ago.
The State of Georgia has always wanted to
grab up a “busted n broke” MARTA !
The US DOT should punish the State of
Georgia and take transportation funding right
off the top of any Federal Monies for Georgia
and give it to MARTA !
– JerryMyer Jackson Jr.
DeKalb County will loss over $560 million
on TSPLOST which is over 45% of the money
invested in the Transportation Investment Act.
Please update the information above with
the following because the 10 counties will actually experience a loss in return on investment:
n Cherokee County with a negative loss of
4%.
n Clayton County with a negative loss of 18%.
n Cobb County with a negative loss of 75%.
n DeKalb County with a negative loss of 45%.
n Douglas County with a negative loss of
41%.
n Fayette County with a negative loss of 17%.
n Fulton County with a negative loss of 25%.
n Gwinnett County with a negative loss of
20.6%.
n Henry County with a negative loss of 6%.
n Rockdale County with a negative loss of

28%.
The TSPLOST will delivery a negative loss
for the ten counties of District 3. The one winner
is the City of Atlanta.
Remember, the TSPLOST problem will simply generate profits for the politically connected.
Taxpayers & Voters deserve a viable solution.
– Viola Davis

the “back door” called state of good repair,
MARTA would not receive a dime!
The other bus systems throughout Georgia
are allowed to use TSPLOST for operation and
maintenance. Is this fair? When will we stop
having to go through the “back door” and/or
beg for our fair share of funding?
– Viola Davis

I looked at the information provided by the
ARC. In your math, you excluded the investments partially in DeKalb (totaling over $1.3
million dollars). It’s fair to say a large percentage of that will be in DeKalb as it includes the
Clifton Corridor Rail and Network upgrades).
You can’t make a definitive statement about the
ROI for DeKalb unless you also factor those
projects also.
– GrandPoohBah

Because your calculations only factored
projects that are 100% in DeKalb, it meant you
used unsound logic in your original post. And
with respect to the “Redistribution of Wealth”
you mention, you also excluded the Federal tax
dollars needed to help with this project also.
Those dollars come from citizens around the
country. MARTA could not have been built
without the Federal funding.
Funny you mention the Cliff shuttle. As
I understand, this was a service provided by
Please view the TIA Return on Investment Emory, not tax payers.
documentation provided by Atlanta Regional
– GrandPoohBah
Commission (ARC) at http://www.scribd.com/
doc/92194885/Transportation-Investment-ActI focused on funding and projects entirely
Return-on-Investment-for-County-City.
within DeKalb County. How does concentratView the money generated within the county ing a majority of the funding within the City of
and subtract the amount spent entirely within Atlanta solve our traffic congestion problem?
the county. Once again, DeKalb County tax- We must demand a viable solution and removal
payers and voters are being asked to pay $10 to of the 50/50 Restriction on MARTA.
receive $5 despite our (DeKalb and Fulton) 30
We must stop the “Redistribution of Wealth”
year investment worth over 6 billion.
done for years to DeKalb County. This was acThe Georgia General Assembly refused to complished with words such as “partially” and
get rid of the 50/50 restriction on MARTA. In “partner”; however, DeKalb County often ends
other words, DeKalb and Fulton County can’t up with the short end of the stick. This system
even control the money collected within their of funding is used in health, environmental,
counties.
transportation and education.
Do you honestly believe the politicians are
It takes over an hour to get down I20 East
going to invest additional money to extend in high volume hours and MARTA continues to
MARTA into South DeKalb or care about our cut routes and increase fares. TSPLOST depends
economic development?
on the people who are due to receive little of
We need an additional rally cry, “Get rid of nothing from the referendum to pass this law
50/50 restriction on MARTA or vote “no” for (South DeKalb).
TSPLOST.
The bus system that travels through the ClifIt is written in the law (TSPLOST) that no ton Corridor does not charge a bus fee. This bus
money can be used for MARTA operation and system is called the Cliff shuttle. The bus system
maintenance. Remember, this was written only was “free” for riders when I rode the system. Did
for MARTA.
you know that?
If MARTA did not get the money through
– Viola Davis
index to advertisers

“The transportation referendum is the second most important
vote that DeKalb citizens can make this year.”

Forum to tackle TSPLOST issues
businesses considering locating to the county
During June 11 discussion, the panelists will
discuss why voters should
support or oppose the referendum on July 31.
Supporters say that
supporting the referenJohn Evans
dum is a good regional
thing to do and that it will
bring jobs and boost the
region’s income. Opponents says say without the
I-20 rail project, DeKalb
is getting passed over for
economic development,
that the
Questions will be takSteen Miles
en from the audience .
The Porter Sanford
Performing Arts & Community Center is at
3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur.
For more information, call 404-2841888.

MARTA board to vote on budget
The MARTA board will vote on its proposed 2013 operating and capital budgets
on June 11 which will include the final step
up in staggered increases for Mobility and
reduced fares.
The transit authority’s board will vote
on a propose fiscal year 2013 operating
budget of $434.95 million and a capital
funds budget totaling $230.4 million for
the Capital Improvement Program and
$141.6 million for debt service.
The proposal does not include recommendations for annual merit or wage
increases for employees, which would
be the fifth consecutive year of no salary
increases.
MARTA’s sales tax revenues are projected to decline $130 million through
fiscal year 2016.
In a June 6 statement, the board says
the 2013 budget proposal takes a fiscally
prudent approach to maintaining quality transit service while continuing to
explore operational efficiencies, internal
cost savings and new revenue generation

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Call 404-284-1888 today
for rates & information.

opportunities. The budget includes a “steady
state” level of current bus and rail services
while increasing Mobility services by about
9 percent, enhancing safety and security
measures, and investing in state-of-goodrepair projects.
In addition, the proposal does not include
a base fare increase; however, it continues
staggered increases for the Mobility base fare,
reduced fare and Mobility passes.
The price of a reduced fare (half-fare)
will increase from 95 cents to $1, the Mobility base fare will increase from $3.80 to $4,
and the Mobility monthly pass will increase
from $122 to $128.If approved as part of the
2013 budget, fare changes would take effect
on Oct. 7, 2012.
The budget takes into account the end
of the temporary waiver on the MARTA Act
financial restrictions on June 2, 2013.
The board meeting will be held at 1:30
p.m. Monday at MARTA headquarters, 2424
Piedmont Road in Atlanta.
For more information, visit www.itsmarta.com or call 404-848-5000.

ler
nd
Ca

The controversial
penny sales tax transportation referendum that is
on the July 31 ballot, will
be discussed at a June 11
Community Forum at
the Porter Sanford Arts
Center in Decatur.
The panel of pro and
con speakers includes Jeff Jeff Dickerson
Dickerson, spokesman for
the Citizens for Transportation Mobility; DeKalb
NAACP President John
Evans; DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson and
former state senator and
MARTOC Committee
member Steen Miles.
MARTA’s assistant Larry Johnson
General Manager of Planning, Cheryl King, and ARC Land Use
Division Chief Dan Reuter will provide
background information. They are prohibited from taking public positions on the
referendum.
The forum takes place from 6:30 p.m. to
9 p.m. is co-sponsored by CrossRoadsNews
and the DeKalb League of Women Voters. It
will be moderated by CrossRoadsNews Editor and Publisher Jennifer Parker.
Belinda Pedroso, the League’s president,
said that the forum will help clarify a lot of
issues for voters who want to make an informed decision when they go to the polls.
Early voting starts on July 9.
“The transportation referendum is the
second most important vote that DeKalb citizens can make this year,” Pedroso said. “We
need DeKalb County residents to come out
en masse to hear the pros and cons about the
transportation bill so they can make their
own informed decision about the penny
sales tax.”
The transportation referendum is seeking
approval from metro-Atlanta voters to levy a
one percent sales tax to fund $8.5 billion in
transportation projects.
If approved, all 10 metro-Atlanta counties will pay the tax.
Residents of DeKalb and Fulton counties,
who already pay a penny tax to fund MARTA,
will pay two pennies for transportation.
Since they began taxing themselves in 1973,
DeKalb and Fulton residents have paid more
than $7.5 billion to fund MARTA.
Among the 157 projects to be funded
by the July 31 transportation referendum,
DeKalb will get $556.8 million to fund 15
projects entirely within the county. It will
also share in a number of other projects with
Atlanta and Fulton County.
DeKalb residents are up in arms over
the referendum, because a long-anticipated
I-20 rail line to the Mall at Stonecrest is not
among the projects on the list. Instead the
county is getting $225 million to build five
“park-and-ride/transit centers” near the
Mall at Stonecrest, Fairington Road/Lithonia
Industrial Boulevard, Wesley Chapel Road,
Candler Road and in East Atlanta.
While the tax will pay for regional transportation improvements, DeKalb residents,
who would be paying 8 percent in sales taxes,
including a penny sales tax for the DeKalb
School System, and a penny Homestead
Option Sales Tax, have to weigh the impact
that the tax will have on the community’s
tax base, their purchasing power, and on new

“We are pinching and squeezing and continue to stretch
to keep going. It’s going to be incredible tight.”

APD’s home-buying program and development celebrated
Help coming
The Get Home Now program has signed
Irons said his neighborhood revitaliza- of 550 the opportunity to buy homes and
for struggling
its 100th customer just as it is celebrating its tion firm is proud to offer a continuum of renovate them.
Its FHA-insured loans also come with a
first anniversary.
services, designed to help families achieve the
IT professionals
job-loss protection plan that pays the hoVaughn Irons, presi- dream of homeownership.
Unemployed and under-employed IT
professionals may qualify for more training and job placement through WEDA’s
“Putting Georgia to Work” program.
An information session was scheduled
for June 8 at the office of the non-profit
Women’s Economic Development Agency
in Atlanta.
WEDA is seeking to help communication analysts, computer software engineers/applications, computer software
engineers/systems, and database administration, is available through a grant with
the U.S. Department of Labor. It is serving as the outreach arm for the statewide
program that is identifying, training and
providing job placement through IT Training Institute, Pacific Systems Inc.
WEDA is accepting applications,
screening applicants, and holding career
fairs and more information sessions.
The WEDA Office is at 1389 Peachtree
St., Suite 102. For more information,
e-mail pgwp@weda-atlanta.org. Apply
online at www.pgwp.org.

Credit repair
workshop
Adults with credit issues can get tips
on overcoming their challenges at a June
23 Repairing Your Credit workshop at the
East Lake Family YMCA in Atlanta.
The DeKalb NAACP in co-sponsoring
the 10 a.m.-to-noon workshop with the
YMCA.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., and
materials will be provided by Bank of
America.
The East Lake Family YMCA is at 275
East Lake Blvd.
The workshop is free to attend, but
space is limited. To reserve a spot, R.S.V.P.
by e-mail to naacpcreditrepair1-free@
yahoo.com.
For more information, call 404-2418006.

dent of APD Solutions,
and DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis announced this
week that Elonda Dixon,
who purchased a home
in Ellenwood, was the
100th customer of the
Vaughn Irons
program.
She used homebuyer assistance programs through DeKalb County government
and APD Solutions to make the purchase in
February.
Dixon was expected to be formally recognized at the June 8 grand opening of APD’s
mixed-use Brownstones at Panola Slope on
Covington Highway in Decatur.

Dear Dave,
I’m a single dad with two teenagers at
home. My 15-year-old son wants to open a
checking account of his own, but he doesn’t
want me or anyone else to have access to it.
Should I just let him do this and suffer the
consequences I know are coming?
– Tim
Dear Tim,
When it comes to 15-year-olds, as a parent you have every right to say, “My food,
and my roof. You do what I say.” With kids
this age you never know what you’re getting.
Half the time you’re talking to a 35-year-old,
and the other half they’re 5 again.
At that age, I think you let them do, or
not do, these things based on their ability to
perform well in life. To the extent they behave
and show some sense, you lengthen the rope
and give them more freedom and privileges.
If they act like doofuses, you shorten the
rope. Remember, no is a complete sentence.
If it were my son, I’d sit him down and
gently explain that he doesn’t have the capacity or knowledge to manage this idea by
himself just yet. Then, make yourself a part
of the experience by teaching him to handle
money wisely. As he matures in financial understanding, you can give him more leeway.

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

NOTICE

The Mayor and Council of the City of Lithonia do hereby announce that the millage rate will be
set a meeting to be held at City Hall, 6980 Main Street, on July 2, 2012 at 6:30 pm and pursuant to
the requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 do hereby publish the following presentation of the
current year's tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five
years.

meowners’ mortgage for up to six months
if they lose their jobs. The loan also covers
renovation expenses and the purchase of
appliances.
The Panola Slope grand opening and
block party festivities included live entertainment, fun and food.
APD is redeveloping Panola Slope, a $5
million project originally constructed in
2007, but fell into foreclosure. It acquired
the development that includes 23 luxury
brownstones, midrise condominiums, and
more than 12,000 square feet of street-level
retail space from three banks. It was originally constructed in 2007.
Visit www.homebyrequest.com.

Teen wants to block parents from checking account

The Governing Authority of the City of Lithonia has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will
require an increase in property taxes by 6.43 percent.
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at City Hall,
6980 Main Street, on Monday, June 18, 2012 at 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. A third hearing will be held
at City Hall on Thursday, June 28, 2012 at 6:30 pm.
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 17.068 mills, an increase of 1.03 mills.
Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 16.037 mills.
This proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $25,243.00 is approximately
$26.00. The proposed increase on non-homestead property with a fair market value of $64,656.00
is approximately $67.00.
The proposed tax increase will enable the City to meet anticipated obligations and to establish a
reserve fund.

“Since the introduction of the Get Home
Now program, we have been able to work
with DeKalb government to ensure that
people have access to the resources they need
to get into homes and now improving the
neighborhoods with developments such as
Panola Slope,” he said.
Ellis said that the county’s partnership
with APD Solutions and the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development is making the American Dream of home ownership
a reality for hardworking DeKalb County
citizens who want to invest in their future.
The Get Home Now program offers borrowers with credit scores of 580 and police
and military personnel with credit scores

If he wants to go dramatic on you, let
him. And remind him that for every minute
he’s in drama mode, that’s less leeway he’s
getting in this matter and every other one in
his life. No, at 15 he’s not opening a checking
account on his own.
– Dave
The point of life insurance
Dear Dave,
I have a 20-year level term life insurance
policy. I noticed the other day that the cost
would increase to $4,000 per year at the end
of the term. Is that because it’s the end of the
policy coverage or something else?
– Tate
Dear Tate,
Technically, the policy will expire at the
end of the term. But most companies that
sell term life insurance will let you renew it,
if you can’t get any other insurance, at a ri-

diculously high rate. But let’s face it, 20 years
down the road your probability of death has
also increased.
If it were me, and I’m near the end of
that policy, I’d go buy another 20-year level
term policy, and let the old one run out. The
only time you might run into trouble with a
policy like that is if you were in the last year
of coverage, and were diagnosed with a terminal illness. Then you’ll really pay through
the nose to keep your coverage intact.
But the real point of a 20-year level term
policy is to ensure that your family is taken
care of while the kids are at home and your
mortgage is covered if you die prematurely.
If you follow my plan, you’ll have $500,000
to $1 million in your retirement account
when the policy runs out and the kids are
gone. Plus, you’ll have taken a 15-year mortgage, and your house will be paid off too. If
something happens then, your spouse will
be okay financially.
The further along in life you get, assuming you do the stuff I teach, the less need
you’ll have for life insurance!
—Dave
Dave Ramsey is one of America’s most
trusted voices on money and business. Follow
Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the
web at daveramsey.com.

New facility funded by parks bond
LIBRARY,

from page

1

move to the new location.
With the larger space, the new branch will
have large children and teen sections, a study
room, and a community meeting room that
seats 80 people.
The new library is among the final four
new and expanded facilities, funded by the
2005 parks bond fund that raised $54.5
million for the construction of five replacement library facilities, four expanded and
renovated libraries, and three new libraries,
bringing the number of library facilities to
25. The bond does not provide for operations costs.
The final three projects to be built are the
new Ellenwood Library that will go up near

Linecrest and River Roads; a replacement
library for the Brookhaven branch; and construction of a two-story 38,000-square- foot
processing and administration building.
But while the library system has grown in
number and square footage, its funding from
the county has plummeted from $2 million
in 2007 to $100,000 a year.
To cope, the library system has reduced
operating hours systemwide and the only
branch that currently opens on Sundays is
the Decatur branch.
Weissinger said they would like to restore
opening hours systemwide but with less
money coming in it’s a struggle.
“We are pinching and squeezing and
continue to stretch to keep going,” she said.
“It’s going to be incredible tight.”

Put CrossRoadsNews
to Work for You!

Call 404-284-1888 for Advertising Rates & Information

7

CrossRoadsNews

June 9, 2012

Wellness

“As this report shows, DeKalb Medical is a key pillar in the
community and this relationship is important to us.”

DeKalb Medical impacts region’s economy in a big way
DeKalb Regional Health Systems generated more than
$806 million in revenue and sustained 6,480 full-time jobs
for the local and state economy in 2010, a recent report by
the Georgia Hospital Association found.
The report evaluated the impact of DeKalb Regional,
which includes DeKalb Medical, DeKalb Medical Hillandale and DeKalb Medical at Downtown Decatur.
DeKalb Medical CEO John Shelton called the report
welcome news.
“What pleases us most from this report is that we
ended up with a net increase in full-time jobs,” Shelton
said in a May 23 statement. “That’s a positive sign for us
and the community because the overall economy and job
situation was still in rough shape at that time.”
While DeKalb Medical remains a major component of
the area’s economic engine, the hospital’s leadership, like
the rest of the Georgia hospital community, is concerned
about a wide array of economic challenges that have made

Teen dating violence
for discussion event
Teen dating violence, which is on the
increase in DeKalb and across the country,
will be explored at a June 14 discussion
at the Exchange Park Intergenerational
Center in Decatur.
DeKalb District 3 Commissioner
Larry Johnson and the DeKalb Solicitor
General’s Office are co-presenting the 10to-11:15 a.m. meeting.
Nationally, females ages 16 to 24 are
three times more likely to suffer intimate
partner violence than any other age
group.
Exchange Park Intergenerational Center is at 2771 Columbia Drive. For more
information, e-mail larryjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov or call 404-371-2425.

it increasingly difficult to meet the community’s health
care needs, including continued cuts in Medicare and
Medicaid payments and a fast-growing uninsured population. Currently, 34 percent of all hospitals in Georgia are
operating with negative margins.
“As this report shows, DeKalb Medical is a key pillar
in the community and this relationship is important to
us,” Shelton said.
The report used the economic multiplier developed by
the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic
Analysis to evaluate hospital’s impact.
The multiplier considers the “ripple” effect of direct
hospital expenditures on other sectors of the economy,
such as medical supplies, durable medical equipment and
pharmaceuticals.
The Georgia Hospital Association is the state’s largest
hospital trade association. For more information, visit DeKalb Medical at Hillandale is one of three hospitals owned by
www.dekalbmedical.org.
DeKalb Regional. Together they generated more than $806 milllion.

Screenings for health fair Workshop to offer
Free health screenings, art and entertainment are some of the
events on tap for the June 9 Family and Community Fun Day/
Health Fair and Expo at Welcome Friend Baptist Church in Ellenwood.
The 10 a.m.-to-3 p.m. event, sponsored by the Nurses Guild,
is seeking to raise awareness about proper screenings, nutrition
and fitness.
Screenings for blood pressure, hearing and vision, body mass
index, cholesterol, and blood glucose will be available.
Debra Curtis, the church’s Health Ministry president, said
information on prostate health and vouchers for prostate screenings will also be available.
A Senior Citizens Workshop will cover questions that all seniors need to know to ask their doctors.
There will be an artists market, Kids Zone, games and prizes,
Fire Safety House, Zumba demonstrations, and music.
The church is at 3198 Bouldercrest Road.
For more information, visit www.welcomefriendbaptistchurch.
org or call 404-241-0554.

insights into farming
Small and aspiring farmers can attend a free workshop and
field day on June 14 at Love Is Love and Berea Mennonite Farms
in Atlanta.
During the 9 a.m. -to-2:30 p.m. program, participants will observe organically grown crops in various stages of development and
other production practices.
Training sessions include organic fruit and vegetable production,
aquaponics (growing fish and plants), micro-irrigation, U.S. Department of Agriculture EQIP financial incentives, forestry management,
edible landscape, and the Georgia EBT Farmers Market Program.
Special guest speakers will discuss urban agriculture and aquaponics productions, and local chefs will demonstrate cooking with
Georgia grown produce. The event is free to attend but registration
is required by June 11.
The program takes place at 1820 Mary Dell Drive. For more
information, directions and to register, visit www.tiny.cc/LBdf2b
or call 678-376-9518.

8

CrossRoadsNews

Youth

June 9, 2012

“Through my two years with this foundation, I have
grown and I have learned about myself.”
Simon Scholars
from Southwest
DeKalb and
Chamblee Charter
high schools
were honored
at the Simon
Foundation
Awards Banquet
at Emory
University.

Two years ago at the Ronald Simon Family Foundation’s scholarship banquet, Jaiva
Crawford gave a tearful speech about the
struggles she and her father, John, were facing
after he lost his human resources job.
Through the help of the Simon Scholarship Program, Jaiva overcame her financial
challenges and finished her high school career on a high note ­as 2012 resident valedictorian at Southwest DeKalb High School.
She said the foundation’s help was invaluable to her success.
“Through my two years with this foundation, I have grown and I have learned about
myself,” she said. “My family, my dedication,
my dreams and the emphasis of the foundation made the last two years of high school

more unbelievable.”
Jaiva is headed to Kennesaw State University in the fall.
She and her Simon Scholars 2012 class
were recognized at a May 31 Simon Foundation awards banquet at the Emory University
Conference Center.
The 2012 class includes eight students
each from Southwest DeKalb and Chamblee
Charter high schools.
All of the students, who are academic
high achievers, face economic worries
caused by immigration, death, sickness and
job loss.
Since its inception in 2004, the Irving,
Calif.-based foundation has helped hundreds
of disadvantaged youth and awarded more
than $20 million in scholarships.
The Simon Scholars Atlanta Chapter,

SPLOST committee members sought
DeKalb Schools is seeking volunteers to
serve on a 12-member Citizen’s SPLOST
Oversight Committee.
The advisory committee, which is expected to begin meeting in August, will provide
citizen review of the voter-approved SPLOST
Project IV list. The penny tax is expected to
raise $645 million to build, renovate and
upgrade schools; improve sports facilities;
and add technology.
Qualified candidates must reside within
the school district and may not be members
of the Board of Education or employees of
the district, and must not have any economic
interest in any of the district’s projects.
Experience in accounting, architecture,

auditing, construction, engineering, finance, K-12 education, legal, planning,
project management or real estate is desired. Volunteers must be able to dedicate
at least two hours each quarter to meet,
generally in the evenings. Members must
pass a background check and sign a nondisclosure agreement.
The deadline to apply is June 17. Applications must be submitted at http://goo.
gl/ZfoSV. Questions about the Citizen’s
SPLOST Oversight Committee may be
emailed to splost-oversight@fc.dekalb.
k12.ga.us.
For more information, visit www.
dekalb.k12.ga.us.

which started in 2005, has inducted 141
students who have received more than $4
million in scholarships.
Students in almost all of DeKalb’s high
schools have received Simon Scholarships,
but since 2008 it has elected all its scholars
from four certified Simon Scholar High
Schools – Southwest DeKalb, Druid Hills,
Redan, and Chamblee – in DeKalb. The certified schools were chosen because of their
successful academic programs and/or their
proven records of success with implementing
the Simon Scholars Program.
Each year, the foundation selects scholars
from the schools’ sophomore class and offers
them intensive support during their last two
years in high school.
Annually, up to 20 scholarships are
awarded across the four schools.

To qualify for the program, students must
have at least a 2.5 academic grade-point average, be self-motivated, and be involved in
community service.
Southwest DeKalb graduate Rodney
Dew, who will be majoring in international
business, said it was an incredible experience
being a Simon scholar.
“It has helped me to expand my wings
and develop into a great leader,” he said. “It
has taught me that working with others is
critical to my success. It has taught me the
skills that will be valuable to my success at
Howard University.”
At the May ceremony, Chamblee Charter
High School graduate Forest Ogunyankin
was named “Simon Scholar of the Year.” He
will attend Vanderbilt University in the fall
and major in neuroscience.

Young pianist to perform at library
Classical pianist
Yasha Young will perform at the Covington
Library on June 16.
During the 2 p.m.4 p.m. recital, the
10-year-old Decatur
pianist will showcase
the talent that won
her an Outstanding
Performance rating
at the Cobb County
Music Teachers Association’s Local Piano
Auditions at Kennesaw State University
in March.
Since then Yasha
has played at the annual Winners Recital and auditioned at the
Georgia Music Teacher Association state competition where she was awarded a medallion
for playing Sonatina Opus 55 No. 1 by Fredrick Kuhlau and Burgmuller Opus 100 from
25 Easy and Progressive Studies for the Piano.
The fourth-grader, who is home schooled,
said it was awesome to advance to the state
competition.
“I felt happy and I was relaxed,” she said.
“I’m usually nervous before playing but it felt
great to play and I felt comfortable.”

Yasha Young
won an
Outstanding
Performance
rating at the
Cobb County
Music Teachers
Association’s
Local Piano
Auditions.

Yasha has only been playing the piano for
five years, but you would never guess.
“It gives me a break from what’s going on
around me and it’s challenging,” she said.
Yasha’s mother, Yolanda, said her daughter’s accomplishments are “wonderful.” She
wishes every child could be so exposed.
“Music gives kids discipline, focus and
self-esteem,” she said.
Yasha’s performance at the library is free
to attend. The library is at 3500 Covington
Highway in Decatur.

Film touts education improvements

www.drcraigwilliamsortho.com

The documentary film “Making the
Grade in Georgia: Educational Freedom and
Justice for All” will be screened on June 11
at Deeper Life World Outreach Ministry in
Stone Mountain.
The screening, which begins at 7 p.m., is
co-sponsored by the Georgia Charter Schools
Association.
“Making the Grade in Georgia” takes aim
at the perilous cost of not providing rigorous,
college- and career-ready educational options for the state’s children. Georgia leaders
will explain why citizens must do everything
possible to lift Georgia from its current 48th
national rank in education, and its 65 percent

high school graduation rank.
The 30-minute film’s subtitle, “Educational Freedom and Justice for All,” points
to the urgency of the issue and belief that
when parents are given more options for
their children’s education, the results can
be exceptional. Several successful models of
“choice” are documented in the film, such
as public charter schools, home schooling,
virtual online education, and more. A discussion and Q&A session will follow.
Deeper Life World Outreach Ministry is
at 5684 Redan Road. For more information,
contact Nina Rubin at 404-835-8903 or
nrubin@gacharters.org.

June 9, 2012

Scene

9

CrossRoadsNews

“It has always been my personal goal as a pastor to
bring as many souls to Christ as I can.”
North DeKalb
Mall’s annual
Father Daughter
Dance will be
June 16 in the
mall’s Food
Court.

DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson’s 15th annual Father’s Day Friday Golf Tournament will be
held on June 15 at the Sugar Creek Golf Course.

Fathers, daughters invited to dance
Dads and daughters of all ages can put on
their fine duds and dance to a live band on
June 16 at North DeKalb Mall.
The semiformal Father Daughter Dance
takes place from 7 p.m-8:30 p.m. in the food
court. There will be refreshments and prizes.

It’s $3 per person to attend; June 13 is the
final deadline to register.
North DeKalb Mall is at 2040 Lawrenceville Highway in Decatur.
For more information, visit www.northdekalbmall.com or call 404-320-7960.

Golf tourney to benefit arts, Rotary
About 25 teams of golfers will be teeing
off at the Sugar Creek Golf Course on June
15 in DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson’s
15th annual Father’s Day Friday Golf Tournament.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9.
The tourney will benefit the Porter San-

ford III Performing Arts and Community
Center and the South DeKalb Rotary.
Spaces are still available for participants and teams.
Sugar Creek Golf Course is at
2706 Bouldercrest Road in Atlanta.
For registration and more information,
call Dewey McClain at 770-925-3201.

Author to share family’s Titanic tale

Stonecrest Library marks 1st year

“The Wings of Opportunity,” pubAuthor Julie Hedgepeth Willished in 2010, “The Significance of
liams will share her family’s story
the Printed Word in Early America”
of rescue and survival after the
in 1999, and “The Early American
sinking of the Titanic during a
Press, 1690-1783” in 1994.
talk on June 11 at the Carter LiDuring her 7 p.m. talk, Williams
brary in Atlanta.
will relate the story of Albert and his
For 100 years, the story of
young family who were saved from
the RMS Titanic has fascinated
drowning on the Titanic by a compeople around the world.
Julie H. Williams
bination of luck and pluck: Albert’s
The ship, which was thought
to be unsinkable, sank on its maiden voyage outgoing nature, wife Sylvia’s illness, and
claiming the lives of 1,514 people in one of their infant son Alden’s helplessness.
Their detailed story of the short life of the
the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters
Titanic and their lucky rescue aboard the illin history.
Williams’ great-uncle, Albert Caldwell, starred Lifeboat 13 has never been fully told
who was 26 years old, was one of the 710 in Titanic literature.
Williams said that Albert lived to be 91
survivors.
Her book “A Rare Titanic Family: The and told her the story of the Titanic dozens
Caldwells’ Story of Survival” was published of times.
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
on April 15, 2012.
Williams is a journalism professor at and Museum is at 441 Freedom Parkway. For
Samford University. Her other books include more information, call 404-865-7109.

A book sale, story time, crafts, and prize
giveaways are among the events that will
celebrate the first anniversary of the opening
of the Stonecrest Library on June 16.
The Friends and Family Day takes place
noon to 4 p.m. The festivities are hosted
by the Friends of Stonecrest Library, which

formed soon after the library opened last
year as the county’s first new library in
more than 20 years.
Stonecrest Library is at 3123 Klondike
Road. For more information, visit www.
friendsofstonecrest.com or call 770-4823828.

FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE
For Dads & daughters of all ages

Rainbow Park service on television
I can,” Dial said.
Members and fans of Rainbow
“We’re ‘the Park’ for You” can
Park Baptist Church can now view
be seen on AIB TV on Comcast
the church’s “We’re ‘the Park’ for
Channel 5, AT&T U-Verse Channel
You” Wednesdays on AIB-TV.
6, Charter Communications ChanThe 9 p.m. broadcast began airnel 22, and on Video On Demand
ing on May 23.
on www.aibtv.com or streaming at
The Rev. Steven N. Dial Sr., the
AIBNet.tv.
church’s senior pastor, said the TV
Rainbow Park Baptist Church is
broadcast is another way to reach Steven Dial Sr.
at 2941 Columbia Drive. For more
people.
“It has always been my personal goal as information, visit www.rainbowparkbaptist.
a pastor to bring as many souls to Christ as org or call 404-288-1910.

Area churches offering VBS programs
Area churches are hosting fun-filled vacation Bible school programs for children and
adults starting June 11.
The Ray of Hope Church in Decatur
will host Awesome Adventure VBS from
June 11-14 offering fun, food and classes
for children from age 4 through youth and
adults in the Family Life Center. Classes start
at 6:30 p.m. A nursery will be provided for
children under 4.
Ray of Hope Christian Church is at 2778
Snapfinger Road. For more information, visit
www.rayofhope.org or call 770-696-5100,
Ext. 233.

The School of Biblical Studies at Berean
Christian Church in Stone Mountain is offering VBS from June 11-13.
Classes take place 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for
the entire family – couples, singles, children,
youth, men and women, and the focus is the
family. A free dinner will be served nightly
from 6 to 6:45.
To register, e-mail rodney.mason@bereanchristianchurch.org.
Berean Christian Church is at 2201 Young
Road. For more information, visit http://
bereanchristianchurch.org or call 770-5934421.

Marketplace
Reach More of the People Who Matter Most – Local Customers!

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please contact us:
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Contact: APSMO
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apsmo.crc.ropheka@gmail.com

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Reader Notice
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information: This newspaper will never knowingly accept any advertisement that is illegal or considered fraudulent. If you have questions or
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from work-at-home programs, money to loan, etc., if it sounds too good
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This newspaper cannot be held responsible for any negative consequences that occur as a result of you doing business with any advertisers. Thank you.

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